Tamara Tal
@tamaratal.bsky.social
Mechanistic toxicology group leader @UFZ in Leipzig, Germany. Formerly @US EPA. I want to understand how chemicals in the environment disrupt biology in #zebrafish. I also dabble in chemical-microbiome interactions. She/her 🏳️🌈
Pinned
Tamara Tal
@tamaratal.bsky.social
· Jun 12
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
Scott Glaberman, Chris Frey and I lay out why EPA's Office of Research and Development should be protected, not destroyed. Please share widely.
Dismantling EPA’s research office jeopardizes environmental safety, public health, and US competitiveness | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Dismantling EPA’s research office jeopardizes environmental safety, public health, and US competitiveness | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Thanks for highlighting this @danielgorelick.bsky.social ♥️. Most US citizens want their air, water, and food to be safe from harmful chemicals. The US EPA Office of Research Development is the scientific engine that ensures chemical safety. ORD should be celebrated, not destroyed!
Proud of my colleague & friend @tamaratal.bsky.social for co-authoring this www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... Dismantling EPA’s research office jeopardizes environmental safety, public health, and US competitiveness. Truth.
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
July 3, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Thanks for highlighting this @danielgorelick.bsky.social ♥️. Most US citizens want their air, water, and food to be safe from harmful chemicals. The US EPA Office of Research Development is the scientific engine that ensures chemical safety. ORD should be celebrated, not destroyed!
Scott Glaberman, Chris Frey and I lay out why EPA's Office of Research and Development should be protected, not destroyed. Please share widely.
Dismantling EPA’s research office jeopardizes environmental safety, public health, and US competitiveness | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Dismantling EPA’s research office jeopardizes environmental safety, public health, and US competitiveness | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
June 12, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Scott Glaberman, Chris Frey and I lay out why EPA's Office of Research and Development should be protected, not destroyed. Please share widely.
Dismantling EPA’s research office jeopardizes environmental safety, public health, and US competitiveness | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Dismantling EPA’s research office jeopardizes environmental safety, public health, and US competitiveness | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
🍿 👀 „They are taking on an influential agricultural and chemicals lobby that has long rebuffed attempts to strengthen restrictions on atrazine and other pesticides, at a time when the Trump administration is rolling back government restrictions on industries, not imposing new ones.“
Kennedy’s Allies Against Pesticides: Environmentalists, Moms and Manly Men
www.nytimes.com
May 20, 2025 at 6:17 PM
🍿 👀 „They are taking on an influential agricultural and chemicals lobby that has long rebuffed attempts to strengthen restrictions on atrazine and other pesticides, at a time when the Trump administration is rolling back government restrictions on industries, not imposing new ones.“
Public health matters
A federal judge on Friday indefinitely prohibited the Department of Health and Human Services from terminating $11 billion in public health grants set aside for states.
Judge Extends Block on Public Health Cuts for More Than 20 States
www.nytimes.com
May 17, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Public health matters
Reposted by Tamara Tal
IMBA is recruiting a Junior Group Leader! Are you interested in starting your own lab, pursuing curiosity-driven basic research in the life sciences? Apply by May 18: imba.science/beagroupleader #hiring #biology #research #groupleader #europe
May 14, 2025 at 7:00 AM
IMBA is recruiting a Junior Group Leader! Are you interested in starting your own lab, pursuing curiosity-driven basic research in the life sciences? Apply by May 18: imba.science/beagroupleader #hiring #biology #research #groupleader #europe
Please take a moment to appreciate the beautiful imaging art that was submitted this year 😍 (also, can you spot my image?)
🎉 Public Voting Now OPEN – #HelmholtzImaging Best Scientific Image Contest 2025
Choose your favorite(s) & cast your vote by May 30 👉 bit.ly/BSIC2025-Public-Voting
The award recipients will be announced at our conference on June 26.
#HIBestImage25 #HIConference25
@www.helmholtz.de
Choose your favorite(s) & cast your vote by May 30 👉 bit.ly/BSIC2025-Public-Voting
The award recipients will be announced at our conference on June 26.
#HIBestImage25 #HIConference25
@www.helmholtz.de
May 13, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Reposted by Tamara Tal
“How might the narrative about senior women be challenged or changed in order to respect these women who have achieved enough success to earn promotion? How do we stop this generational cycle so that women's wings aren't clipped as soon as they approach the power to soar.”
May 3, 2025 at 2:06 PM
“How might the narrative about senior women be challenged or changed in order to respect these women who have achieved enough success to earn promotion? How do we stop this generational cycle so that women's wings aren't clipped as soon as they approach the power to soar.”
Reposted by Tamara Tal
I and my colleagues, @carpenterlab.bsky.social and Carol Greider, wrote an op-ed for our local media site, @lookoutsantacruz.bsky.social, about the recent cancellations of NIH funded training programs meant to broaden participation in science at UCSC:
lookout.co/trumps-escal...
lookout.co/trumps-escal...
Trump’s escalating attacks on research and education are hurting UC Santa Cruz – the public needs to act now
The Trump administration’s attack on scientific research will deeply affect UC Santa Cruz, write three eminent UCSC professors, including one who won a Nobel Prize for her work. Since Donald Trump too...
lookout.co
April 27, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I and my colleagues, @carpenterlab.bsky.social and Carol Greider, wrote an op-ed for our local media site, @lookoutsantacruz.bsky.social, about the recent cancellations of NIH funded training programs meant to broaden participation in science at UCSC:
lookout.co/trumps-escal...
lookout.co/trumps-escal...
Reposted by Tamara Tal
This top line--"nearly 800 NIH grants"--was made possible by every scientist who reported their terminated grant to us. 🙏
Small acts add up, and the country is finally learning the full scope RFK's vandalism.
And don't stop now! Report your terminated NIH grant here: forms.gle/FnGLkUtK3M58...
Small acts add up, and the country is finally learning the full scope RFK's vandalism.
And don't stop now! Report your terminated NIH grant here: forms.gle/FnGLkUtK3M58...
Nearly 800 NIH grants have been terminated so far, including some focused on HIV and AIDS, trans health, and COVID-19, after researchers were told their work was no longer an agency priority. https://cbsn.ws/3YkDndI
April 28, 2025 at 2:37 AM
This top line--"nearly 800 NIH grants"--was made possible by every scientist who reported their terminated grant to us. 🙏
Small acts add up, and the country is finally learning the full scope RFK's vandalism.
And don't stop now! Report your terminated NIH grant here: forms.gle/FnGLkUtK3M58...
Small acts add up, and the country is finally learning the full scope RFK's vandalism.
And don't stop now! Report your terminated NIH grant here: forms.gle/FnGLkUtK3M58...
Reposted by Tamara Tal
🌍 IP3 Retreat: Healthy Planet
📅 May 7, 2025 | 🕘 9:00–17:00 | 📍 KUBUS Leipzig
Last chance to register – deadline until today (April 25)!
Join us for a day of science, exchange & inspiration. Agenda & abstracts are now online.
Open to all @ufz.de employees
👉 Register here: events.hifis.net/event/2299/
📅 May 7, 2025 | 🕘 9:00–17:00 | 📍 KUBUS Leipzig
Last chance to register – deadline until today (April 25)!
Join us for a day of science, exchange & inspiration. Agenda & abstracts are now online.
Open to all @ufz.de employees
👉 Register here: events.hifis.net/event/2299/
April 25, 2025 at 8:03 AM
🌍 IP3 Retreat: Healthy Planet
📅 May 7, 2025 | 🕘 9:00–17:00 | 📍 KUBUS Leipzig
Last chance to register – deadline until today (April 25)!
Join us for a day of science, exchange & inspiration. Agenda & abstracts are now online.
Open to all @ufz.de employees
👉 Register here: events.hifis.net/event/2299/
📅 May 7, 2025 | 🕘 9:00–17:00 | 📍 KUBUS Leipzig
Last chance to register – deadline until today (April 25)!
Join us for a day of science, exchange & inspiration. Agenda & abstracts are now online.
Open to all @ufz.de employees
👉 Register here: events.hifis.net/event/2299/
Reposted by Tamara Tal
I wrote a thing.
I am eternally grateful for my editor, who took the original draft and helped me narrow down my key points into a more effective piece with a broader reach.
Also, thanks to the editorial & legal teams, who maintained the message while protecting us in this fraught moment.
I am eternally grateful for my editor, who took the original draft and helped me narrow down my key points into a more effective piece with a broader reach.
Also, thanks to the editorial & legal teams, who maintained the message while protecting us in this fraught moment.
Scientists must push back against the threat of rising white nationalism and the dangerous and pseudoscientific ideas of eugenics
https://go.nature.com/4jGqiUc
https://go.nature.com/4jGqiUc
Eugenics is on the rise again: human geneticists must take a stand
Scientists must push back against the threat of rising white nationalism and the dangerous and pseudoscientific ideas of eugenics.
go.nature.com
April 24, 2025 at 2:25 PM
I wrote a thing.
I am eternally grateful for my editor, who took the original draft and helped me narrow down my key points into a more effective piece with a broader reach.
Also, thanks to the editorial & legal teams, who maintained the message while protecting us in this fraught moment.
I am eternally grateful for my editor, who took the original draft and helped me narrow down my key points into a more effective piece with a broader reach.
Also, thanks to the editorial & legal teams, who maintained the message while protecting us in this fraught moment.
Reposted by Tamara Tal
In today's Nature: "These cutbacks put the entire US research enterprise at risk. For more than 8 decades, the US has stood unrivalled as the world’s leader in scientific discovery and technological innovation. US universities spin off more than 1,100 science-based start-up companies each year.."
April 17, 2025 at 2:13 PM
In today's Nature: "These cutbacks put the entire US research enterprise at risk. For more than 8 decades, the US has stood unrivalled as the world’s leader in scientific discovery and technological innovation. US universities spin off more than 1,100 science-based start-up companies each year.."
Reposted by Tamara Tal
Endangering travel to the US also limits the free exchange of ideas, a crucial component of our academic and research success. This administration is using every conceivable tool to decimate the US’s academic and research enterprise and we will be the poorer for it.
It’s news to some, but travel to the US isn’t just a matter of conferences, in a lot of fields; avoiding it cuts off research, and if you’re in North America it takes the vast majority of fellowships and jobs off the table. There’s a big difference between replacing this and just not being affected.
April 16, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Endangering travel to the US also limits the free exchange of ideas, a crucial component of our academic and research success. This administration is using every conceivable tool to decimate the US’s academic and research enterprise and we will be the poorer for it.
Reposted by Tamara Tal
Thirty-eight of 43 experts cut last month from the boards that review the science and research that happens in laboratories at the National Institutes of Health are female, Black or Hispanic, according to an analysis by the chairs of a dozen of the boards.
Women, minorities fired in purge of NIH science review boards
Scientists, with expertise in fields that include mental health, cancer and infectious disease, typically serve five-year terms and were not given a reason for their dismissal.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 16, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Thirty-eight of 43 experts cut last month from the boards that review the science and research that happens in laboratories at the National Institutes of Health are female, Black or Hispanic, according to an analysis by the chairs of a dozen of the boards.
Reposted by Tamara Tal
Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions - rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking steps to make sure students can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope others follow suit.
April 15, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions - rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking steps to make sure students can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope others follow suit.
Reposted by Tamara Tal
Did somebody say make #PeerReview more fair, more transparent, and more fast?
Fast & Fair peer review from @biologyopen.bsky.social
journals.biologists.com/bio/pages/fa...
Fast & Fair peer review from @biologyopen.bsky.social
journals.biologists.com/bio/pages/fa...
April 14, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Did somebody say make #PeerReview more fair, more transparent, and more fast?
Fast & Fair peer review from @biologyopen.bsky.social
journals.biologists.com/bio/pages/fa...
Fast & Fair peer review from @biologyopen.bsky.social
journals.biologists.com/bio/pages/fa...
Reposted by Tamara Tal
Reposted by Tamara Tal
Fast & Fair peer review made it to the European Zebrafish PI meeting in Paris.
Ran into one of our reviewers @simoesfilipa.bsky.social used her honorarium to buy new shoes.
Zebrafish research never looked so good.
📄 bit.ly/4iZ30st
bit.ly/fastandfair
@biologists.bsky.social @biologyopen.bsky.social
Ran into one of our reviewers @simoesfilipa.bsky.social used her honorarium to buy new shoes.
Zebrafish research never looked so good.
📄 bit.ly/4iZ30st
bit.ly/fastandfair
@biologists.bsky.social @biologyopen.bsky.social
April 3, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Fast & Fair peer review made it to the European Zebrafish PI meeting in Paris.
Ran into one of our reviewers @simoesfilipa.bsky.social used her honorarium to buy new shoes.
Zebrafish research never looked so good.
📄 bit.ly/4iZ30st
bit.ly/fastandfair
@biologists.bsky.social @biologyopen.bsky.social
Ran into one of our reviewers @simoesfilipa.bsky.social used her honorarium to buy new shoes.
Zebrafish research never looked so good.
📄 bit.ly/4iZ30st
bit.ly/fastandfair
@biologists.bsky.social @biologyopen.bsky.social
Nightmare scenario.
„On Feb. 16, customs officials detained her at Logan International Airport in Boston for failing to declare samples of frog embryos she had carried from France at the request of her boss at Harvard.“
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/s...
„On Feb. 16, customs officials detained her at Logan International Airport in Boston for failing to declare samples of frog embryos she had carried from France at the request of her boss at Harvard.“
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/s...
She Worked in a Harvard Lab to Reverse Aging, Until ICE Jailed Her
President Trump’s immigration crackdown ensnared Kseniia Petrova, a scientist who fled Russia after protesting its invasion of Ukraine. She fears arrest if she is deported there.
www.nytimes.com
April 11, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Nightmare scenario.
„On Feb. 16, customs officials detained her at Logan International Airport in Boston for failing to declare samples of frog embryos she had carried from France at the request of her boss at Harvard.“
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/s...
„On Feb. 16, customs officials detained her at Logan International Airport in Boston for failing to declare samples of frog embryos she had carried from France at the request of her boss at Harvard.“
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/s...
„So, I ask you: How do you feel? How do you feel as we fall behind in global scientific progress? As economic uncertainty grows? As the health of your families and communities is put at risk? I know I feel outrage, and I hope others recognize what’s at stake and feel the urgency to support science.“
Great article by @nobelprize.bsky.social laureate @ardemp.bskyverified.social outlining the health, economic and national security benefits of US biomedical research, and the devastation of government efforts to destroy our leading edge.
www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/h...
www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/h...
Nobel laureate: I owe America my success. Today, its scientific future is in danger | CNN
Dr. Ardem Patapoutian says he watches “with deep sadness as the United States’ remarkable scientific enterprise, which took generations of hard work and national investment to build, faces a concerted...
www.cnn.com
April 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
„So, I ask you: How do you feel? How do you feel as we fall behind in global scientific progress? As economic uncertainty grows? As the health of your families and communities is put at risk? I know I feel outrage, and I hope others recognize what’s at stake and feel the urgency to support science.“
Reposted by Tamara Tal
Great article by @nobelprize.bsky.social laureate @ardemp.bskyverified.social outlining the health, economic and national security benefits of US biomedical research, and the devastation of government efforts to destroy our leading edge.
www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/h...
www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/h...
Nobel laureate: I owe America my success. Today, its scientific future is in danger | CNN
Dr. Ardem Patapoutian says he watches “with deep sadness as the United States’ remarkable scientific enterprise, which took generations of hard work and national investment to build, faces a concerted...
www.cnn.com
April 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Great article by @nobelprize.bsky.social laureate @ardemp.bskyverified.social outlining the health, economic and national security benefits of US biomedical research, and the devastation of government efforts to destroy our leading edge.
www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/h...
www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/h...
So lovely to host Jess Plavicki at UFZ today where we learned about how TCDD exposure disrupts neurovasculature development. This image represents the Brown-to-UFZ pipeline - Here’s hoping I get to work with many more Plavicki trainees in the future 👾.
@ufz-cite.bsky.social @plavickilab.bsky.social
@ufz-cite.bsky.social @plavickilab.bsky.social
April 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
So lovely to host Jess Plavicki at UFZ today where we learned about how TCDD exposure disrupts neurovasculature development. This image represents the Brown-to-UFZ pipeline - Here’s hoping I get to work with many more Plavicki trainees in the future 👾.
@ufz-cite.bsky.social @plavickilab.bsky.social
@ufz-cite.bsky.social @plavickilab.bsky.social
Reposted by Tamara Tal
Good tutorial on how measles infections work, fortunately all of this is avoidable.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
How Measles Attacks an Unvaccinated Child
With falling vaccination rates and outbreaks that have caused more than 580 U.S. cases and at least two deaths, health experts expect hundreds or even thousands more to be infected in the coming month...
www.nytimes.com
April 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Good tutorial on how measles infections work, fortunately all of this is avoidable.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Tamara Tal
Our daughter, a life-long NC resident and a Tarheel born and bred is one of those whose ballot was challenged. This is a shocking example of using the courts to overturn valid elections
BREAKING: In a 2-1 opinion, NC Court of Appeals sides with Griffin, orders State Board of Elections to recount votes. Voters w/ missing registration info & military/overseas voters lacking photo ID will get 15 days to cure ballots. Never Residents to be removed from count. #ncpol
April 4, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Our daughter, a life-long NC resident and a Tarheel born and bred is one of those whose ballot was challenged. This is a shocking example of using the courts to overturn valid elections
Reposted by Tamara Tal
“a 400-year-old institution should be making decisions with a time horizon of centuries, not news cycles. Making a principled stand now…is the single best thing Harvard could do to earn its continued place as a symbol of genuine excellence”
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/04/o...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/04/o...
Harvard’s moment of truth - The Boston Globe
The stakes are high, but the choice should not be difficult.
www.bostonglobe.com
April 5, 2025 at 5:09 AM
“a 400-year-old institution should be making decisions with a time horizon of centuries, not news cycles. Making a principled stand now…is the single best thing Harvard could do to earn its continued place as a symbol of genuine excellence”
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/04/o...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/04/o...